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Sitting on top of Iron Mountain at an elevation of 7,160 feet, the Cliffhanger Roller Coaster at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, is the highest-elevation, full-sized roller coaster in America. Along with an exhilarating thrill ride, the Cliffhanger offers breathtaking views of the Colorado River and Roaring Fork River valleys located more than 1,400 feet below.

Perched at an altitude of 7,160 feet on Iron Mountain overlooking Glenwood Springs, Colorado, it’s the highest-elevation, full-sized roller coaster in the United States.

Glenwood Springs, CO (PRWEB)June 19, 2012

The mission statement for employees at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park is to “Make People Smile;” apparently they also like to make people scream. That was definitely the case on Friday, June 15, when the Adventure Park officially launched the Cliffhanger Roller Coaster. Perched at an altitude of 7,160 feet on the side of Iron Mountain overlooking Glenwood Springs, Colorado, it’s the highest-elevation, full-sized roller coaster in the United States. Its cliff-side curves and heart-stopping drop-offs elicited a lot of smiles, along with the screams.

“We are more than a little excited to officially introduce the Cliffhanger Roller Coaster. Judging from the response from our guests the past few days, they are just as excited,” said Steve Beckley, who owns Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park with his wife Jeanne. “The Cliffhanger is an important addition to the Adventure Park for a couple of reasons. It gives coaster fans a reason to come to Glenwood Springs and increases our capacity so that we keep our thrill-ride enthusiasts entertained with a wider range of options.”

The highest part of the 50-foot-tall Cliffhanger Roller Coaster curves alongside the edge of Glenwood Canyon, more than 1,400 feet above the Roaring Fork and Colorado River valleys. The Adventure Park, which brought the first Alpine Coaster to the U.S. in 2005, also offers thrill seekers the Giant Canyon Swing, which swings riders out 1,300 feet above the Colorado River in a pneumatically powered, zero-Gs thrill ride; Colorado’s only bungee jump; the Soaring Eagle Zip Ride; and a wild, on-your-belly tour of Glenwood Caverns and the Historic Fairy Caves.

Last month, the Adventure Park opened the Wild West Express family roller coaster and the Mine Wheel Ferris wheel ride, expanding its attractions for families with younger kids. They can also enjoy a climbing wall, a giant fort-styled maze, a 4D motion theater, laser tag, gemstone sluice box mining, a 70-minute guided walking cave tour and more. A mountain-top grille serves burgers, sandwiches, nachos, salads and kids’ meals all year, and an outdoor snack shack is open during the summer for cold drinks, hot dogs and, new this year, soft-serve ice cream with flavor bursts.

“I think our setting, located on top of a mountain that’s accessed via gondola, really adds to the guest experience,” Beckley added. “Our views are truly spectacular; you can see portions of the Maroon Bells mountain range, Mt. Sopris, the rivers and Glenwood Springs nestled in the valley below. We’ve taken great care to preserve our surroundings and protect the environment, so that even though you’re enjoying some incredible thrill rides, you’re walking amongst native piñon and juniper trees, often spotting ground squirrels, deer, elk or wild turkeys.”

Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park offers a Day Pass that costs $42 for adults and $38 for kids ages three to 12; it includes a tram or bus ride and unlimited access to most of the park’s attractions. Guests can add a 70-minute guided tour of Glenwood Caverns and Historic Fairy Caves for just $5. The Annual Thrill Pass is the best value for fans who visit more than two days per year; it provides unlimited access to most attractions for $91 for adults, and $87 for kids ages three to 12, and includes a ten percent discount at the park’s restaurants and General Store gift shop. Individual pricing options are also available.

Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park is located midway between Aspen and Vail on I-70, 160 miles west of Denver and 90 miles east of Grand Junction, and is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. The last tram ride up is at 8:30 p.m. For more information, visit http://www.glenwoodcaverns.com or call 800-530-1635, ext. 0.

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About Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park
51000 Two Rivers Plaza Road, Glenwood Springs, Colorado
Located in scenic Glenwood Springs, Colo., midway between Aspen and Vail, Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park offers a mountain-top adventure. The Adventure Park features a gondola ride, guided tours of Glenwood Caverns & Historic Fairy Caves, dining, and attractions including an alpine coaster, roller coasters, a zip ride, 4-dimensional theater, laser tag, a giant swing, a climbing wall, gemstone sluice box mining, simulated Conestoga wagon experience and more. For the most up-to-the-minute news, follow us on Twitter, http://www.Twitter.com/GlenwoodCaverns, or become a fan on Facebook, http://www.Facebook.com/GlenwoodCaverns. Go to http://www.glenwoodcaverns.com for more information, to sign up for our enewsletter, or to request a brochure. 800-530-1635